AUSTRALIAN GP: NORRIS SOARS IN CHAOS, FERRARI SINKS

Relentless. Something he had rarely been in the crucial moments of past races. Lando Norris delivered a stellar performance in Melbourne, dominating a race that tested both nerves and strategy. The race began on a wet track, transitioned to slick tires, and then reverted to intermediates as the rain returned. Meanwhile, multiple safety cars repeatedly reset the leaders' advantage. But Norris remained composed through it all, securing a well-deserved fifth career victory, capping off a perfect weekend after taking his tenth pole position in Formula 1.

His success was bolstered by the guidance of his race engineer, William Joseph. Norris effectively managed his teammate Oscar Piastri, who, fueled by the home crowd’s support, dared to dream of victory. The Australian closed in when Verstappen fell behind, but Norris responded with authority, making it clear that first place was his. McLaren, which in 2024 seems to have adopted a more pragmatic approach, avoided unnecessary in-team battles, instructing Piastri to follow the established strategy. This decision signals that Zak Brown and Andrea Stella recognize their championship potential and refuse to waste points.

As rain returned in the closing stages, Piastri made a costly mistake, spinning out and squandering what seemed to be a guaranteed podium. He dropped from second to ninth, leaving the door open for Max Verstappen, who delivered an impressive performance despite a Red Bull-Honda that looked inferior to the McLaren. After a strong start—overtaking Piastri and putting pressure on Norris—Verstappen lost ground, falling over 15 seconds behind. However, the chaotic final laps brought him back into contention. He pushed hard, applying significant pressure on Norris in the dying moments, but this time the Briton held firm, forcing Verstappen to settle for second place.

Red Bull’s weekend was far from smooth, with Liam Lawson struggling in his first outing for the team. After impressing with Racing Bulls, the New Zealander had an underwhelming debut with Horner’s squad. Technical issues, a lackluster qualifying session, and a difficult race ended with him crashing into the barriers—an outing to forget. He will have a chance to redeem himself in Shanghai.

Mercedes celebrated a podium finish with George Russell, who managed his race well and capitalized on Piastri’s error to claim third place. However, the biggest revelation was Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Starting from 16th, the Italian delivered a breathtaking comeback, nearly securing a podium before receiving a five-second penalty for an unsafe pit release. The penalty was later revoked upon review, allowing him to hold onto an astonishing fourth-place finish. His performance confirmed his exceptional talent, previously showcased in wet conditions during his F2 win at Silverstone and his brilliance at Zandvoort in the Regional by Alpine series.

It was also a strong weekend for Williams, with Alexander Albon securing an impressive fifth place, demonstrating composure on a treacherous track. The team could have had both cars in the points, but Carlos Sainz made a shocking mistake, crashing under the safety car—an uncharacteristic blunder for such an experienced driver.

Lance Stroll capitalized on a well-timed tire change to snatch sixth place. The Canadian outperformed Fernando Alonso for much of the race before the Spaniard made a crucial error, crashing into the wall at Turn 9. It was a tough day for Spanish drivers overall, as Ferrari also struggled.

Leclerc and Hamilton started from the fourth row, hindered by an SF-25 that was difficult to set up, oscillating between oversteer and understeer. While Ferrari initially claimed to be focusing on race pace rather than qualifying, their Sunday performance failed to justify that approach. Leclerc spent much of the race in fifth but ultimately finished eighth due to a late pit stop and a spin. Hamilton ended up tenth, far from where he or the team would have hoped. Shanghai will be crucial to determining whether Ferrari can genuinely compete or if their winter ambitions were just empty promises.

Pierre Gasly fought hard in his Alpine-Renault, coming close to the points before being overtaken late by Piastri and the two Ferraris. Jack Doohan’s race, however, ended on the first lap with a crash into the barriers. Racing Bulls had a tough outing, with Yuki Tsunoda running as high as sixth for much of the race before a poorly executed pit stop dropped him to 12th. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar’s debut was a nightmare—he spun out and crashed during the formation lap, unable to even start the race. A touching moment in the paddock saw Anthony Hamilton consoling the distraught young driver.

At the bottom of the standings were the Haas-Ferraris, the slowest cars not only in Bahrain testing but throughout the Melbourne weekend. Even the rain failed to provide an opportunity for Esteban Ocon, who usually excels in wet conditions, to make a comeback. Oliver Bearman, after crashing twice in free practice, had a quiet and cautious race.

Melbourne confirmed that McLaren is a force to be reckoned with and that Norris is ready to fight for the title. Ferrari, on the other hand, has a lot of work to do, while Verstappen remains a constant threat, even when Red Bull is not at its peak. The season is just beginning, but the early pecking order is already taking shape.

© Cavalieri Garage & Co.